Menhir sebagai media penghormatan dalam kebaktian masyarakat Merapu, Sumba Timur

Archeological research in East Sumba has found archeological came from prehistoric life tradition, especially in the era megalithic tradition such as dolmen, stone case and "Menhir". They also found sarcophagus, large jar, stone fences that were formerly used as the village border. Among those, "Menhirs" were the major finding spread all over East Sumba area. The term "Menhir" refer to the sitting stones in East Sumba which are partly completed and partly not completed intentionally put on certain places to commemorate the dead person. "Menhirs" are considered honorable medium used to accommodate the spirit arrival and also the symbols of commemorated people. The placement of Menhir constitute value patters and symbols that are enforced as well as part of Merapu bilief on the truth of worldly life. The placement of Menhir on dolmen known as ''penji" is functioned as symbol of person whom they respected. This is proven with luxurios decoration on the "penji" such as animal geomatric and other things. Diferent from "menhir" that is placed outside dolmen called "katoda", for instance in the house yard, at the entrance gate of a village, at the rice field etc. they have simple shape. Values that contain in "katoda" are honour to ancestors not the brave or the mighty of the dead person.